MSC Divina in Kusadasi: Ephesus shore excursion by private car

Published 4 October 2026

MSC Divina comes to Kusadasi on Mondays, and only on Mondays. The published schedule (checked in October 2026) lists ten calls: four in October 2026 and six between late June and September 2027. The October days run from 09:00 to 18:00, a later start than many ships, and that later start is the key to planning a good day ashore.

Two seasons, one weekday

October 2026. Monday 5, 12, 19 and 26 October, all with published times of 09:00 to 18:00. On 19 October no other ship is listed; on 12 October three ships share the port.

Summer 2027. Monday 28 June, 26 July, 2 August, 23 August, 6 September and 20 September. Arrival and departure times for these have not been announced yet. What the schedule does show is company: on every one of these six days at least one other ship is in port, and on five of them there are two others besides MSC Divina.

In total, 6 of the 10 calls fall on days with three or more ships. Check the ship’s daily programme for the all-aboard time; it is normally earlier than departure.

Nine hours: room for the full loop

A 09:00 to 18:00 call gives you about nine hours. That is enough for all four sights, Ephesus, the House of the Virgin Mary, the Temple of Artemis and Sirince, which take roughly 7 to 7.5 hours door to door. Add the 60 minutes we keep before departure and the day is full but workable.

If you would rather go slowly, drop Sirince and add the Terrace Houses inside Ephesus. Either choice fits.

A sample October Monday (09:00 to 18:00)

• About 09:30 — meet your driver at the cruise port exit.
• About 10:00 to 12:15 — Ephesus, top gate to bottom gate.
• About 12:35 to 13:20 — House of the Virgin Mary.
• About 13:45 to 14:05 — Temple of Artemis.
• About 14:25 to 15:40 — Sirince: a walk through the lanes and a late lunch.
• About 16:20 — back at the port, well ahead of the 17:00 latest return for an 18:00 departure.

For the 2027 summer calls

Until times appear, plan with these:

• If MSC Divina stays about 9 hours again: the same loop, but reverse it (see below).
• If it stays about 7 to 8 hours: Ephesus, Mary’s House and Artemis; skip Sirince.
• If it stays under 6 hours: Ephesus, plus the Temple of Artemis at most.

A late start in summer: change the order

A 09:00 arrival means you reach Ephesus towards late morning. In October that is pleasant. In July and August, when midday is often well above 30 °C and the ruins offer almost no shade, it is the hardest time to be there. With a private car you can flip the day: go first to Sirince or the shaded House of the Virgin Mary, then come down to Ephesus in the afternoon.

That swap also helps with crowds. With two other ships in port on most summer Mondays, many groups will head to Ephesus at a similar time in the morning. Arriving later avoids the peak.

What to know about each stop

Ephesus. The Library of Celsus facade and the Great Theatre are the set pieces, but the Odeon and the Temple of Hadrian deserve a pause too. Plan about 2 to 2.5 hours on foot, roughly 1.5 to 2 km over uneven stone.

House of the Virgin Mary. A stone house among trees on Mount Koressos, venerated as the place where Mary is believed to have spent her last years. Bring something to cover shoulders and knees.

Temple of Artemis. A short stop beside the road into Selcuk. One column, one of the great stories of the ancient world.

Sirince. Steep cobbled lanes, stone houses and wine-tasting shops selling fruit wines. If you buy a bottle, check your ship’s rules about alcohol on board.

Booking for a Monday call

The Kusadasi–Ephesus private transfer gives you a car and driver for your group alone, up to 8 passengers per vehicle. You meet at the cruise port exit, the driver waits at each stop, and you are driven back to the ship.

Tell us your date and the stops you want when you book; we confirm the plan with you, including the order of the day. Entrance tickets are not included. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before, and you can pay in cash or by card.

Tickets are not included; buy Ephesus and Terrace Houses tickets in advance on our museum tickets page. Planning the visit? See our Ephesus walking guide and when to visit Ephesus.